Goaltender Peter Budaj Named CCM/AHL Player of the Week

Apr 11, 2016

Ontario, CA – The Ontario Reign, proud American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL), announced today that goaltender Peter Budaj has been named the CCM/AHL Player of the Week.

Budaj, 33, allowed only four goals on 111 shots over three games last week to help the Reign secure the AHL’s first-ever Pacific Division regular-season title. The Banska, Bystrica, Slovakia, native began the week with a season-high 46-save performance Wednesday night in a 4-1 win at Stockton. On Friday, he stopped 30 Bakersfield shots in a 4-1 victory and became the second AHL goaltender in the last 50 years to win 40 games in a single season. Budaj’s week wrapped up with a 4-2 win at Bakersfied Saturday, making 31 saves in his 21st consecutive start.

Selected to the AHL All-Star First Team last week, Budaj (41-14-4) leads the AHL in wins, goals-against average (1.74), save percentage (.932), shutouts and minutes played (3,514) this season and started in 59 of the Reign’s 66 games.

A 14-year pro, Budaj has made 297 NHL appearances in his career and has a record of 125-107-36, including a victory in his lone game with Los Angeles earlier this season. A two-time Olympian (2006, 2014), Budaj was originally a second-round draft pick by Colorado in 2001 and played three seasons with the Hershey Bears before reaching the NHL.

The Ontario Reign wrap up the 2015-16 regular season with a pair of contests in San Diego against the Gulls April 15-16 at Valley View Casino Center at 7:05 p.m. Watch the final game and wear your favorite Reign gear at Dave & Buster’s at Ontario Mills! More Information